Gorse fires doused

Gorse fires doused

Forty firefighters attended a blaze near Newquay

Fire crews have been tackling more gorse fires in the South West.

Crews fought a fire at St Martins on the Isles of Scilly, and in at Holdstone Down, north Devon on Saturday.

They are the latest in a series of fires around the UK, including one in Cornwall on Friday which stretched for over a mile and needed crews from across the county to bring under control.

The flames at St Martins were spotted just after 0500 on Saturday.

Firefighters from St Martin's were helped by crews from St Mary's and Bryher to bring the flames under control using beaters and two pumps from open water.

Nine appliances fought a fire at Holdstone Down near Combe Martin on Friday night.

Devon Fire and Rescue say the blaze is now under control.

Firefighters spent Friday afternoon tackling a large gorse fire at Newlyn East near Newquay.

Firefighters were called to Fiddlers Green at 1415 BST after reports that a large area of gorseland was alight.

Huge drain

More than 40 firefighters were at the scene, using beaters and hoses to control the flames.

They had brought the flames, which covered a square mile at the fire's height, under control by 1800.

Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Steve Brown of Cornwall Fire Brigade, said: "This sort of fire is a huge drain on our resources.

"It was a very deep-seated fire in high-standing gorse, and we had the added problem of hidden mineshafts, so we were reluctant to commit personnel into it using beaters.

"You are also at the mercy of the wind and the swirling smoke caused us additional problems."

Cornwall has suffered a series of gorse fires in the last two weeks.